Tag Archives: happiness

The next time you think the glass is half-empty, think again because you could be killing yourself faster. Optimists live longer, healthier lives than pessimists, according to researchers at University of Pittsburgh who looked at the death rates and chronic health conditions of women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative Study, which began following more than 100,000 women 50 and older in 1994. Women who expected good things to happen to them were 14 percent less likely than pessimists to die of any cause. And they were 30 percent less likely to be killed by heart disease. They also had less incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes and were less likely to be cigarette smokers. Women who were highly mistrustful of others, called “cynically hostile” by the team of researchers, were 16 percent more likely to die during the study period of eight years compared to the least cynical of the group. They were also 23 percent more likely to die from cancer. Dr. Hilary Tindle, who led the team, said the study doesn’t prove that negative attitudes cause negative health effects, but she said more research is necessary to see if attitude modification benefits health. That’s it! I’m convinced and I’m canceling my health insurance because all I really need is a positive attitude. Wait a second…isn’t this just The Secret? [Reuters] Keep reading »